59/Custom Hybrid vs regular 59 vs Screamin Demon

[IMENATOR]

I wan't good tone but versatility, classic rock, 80s hard rock and some 80s metal... Led Zep, The Cars, Deep Purple (that is a Strat, I know, just help me here), GnR, Maiden (Powerslave, SWIT), Deff Leppard. Either cleans up nice or has a good usable split coil. I am not after exact tone replica, just something that sounds good and works. yes, I know I gotta tweak the amp too.

I feel tempted for the Screamin Demon, everyone says it has a very open sounding, I get that "sensation" from my STK-S6 bridge in a Strat, open sounding but with power. JB is over power and not that great with mid gain, Fullshred is a bit better but still note there, I think I just need to stay away from high output humbuckers and try low to medium humbuckers with more neutral mids.

Summer discounts on 59/Custom Hybrid, regular 59 and Screamin Demon in my local store.

 

[Masta' C]

I'm a long time fan of the Screamin' Demon, but I genuinely think the '59/Custom hybrid is an overall better pickup out of the box and it splits better also. Tone is in the ballpark of the Demon, but the hybrid is a little fuller sounding, a little less harsh up top, and has slightly more output, which I always end up wishing the Demon had. I think the '59/Custom is a logical "next step down" from the Full Shred you already tried...I think you'll like it!

 

[Mincer]

The Hybrid is one of the best split pickups, and has tight lows with enough touch-sensitivity to handle classic rock parts properly. It also works better in more types of amps than most other pickups.

 

[jeremy]

of those three, hybrid for sure

 

[IMENATOR]

Interesting to see the hybrid getting so much love, I was not aware. Would a Jazz neck be a decent combination? I have one around

 

[freefrog]

About Def Lep... I've tried an Hybrid in an Explorer because I had read Pete Willis played exactly that in the 2d album (with a "composite" pickup made by him a long time before the Hybrid was launched)... in HB mode, the Hybrid was too fat for my taste and a simple SH1 was closer to the tone that I wanted.

Now and obviously, it might work in another guitar so YMMV.

Regarding split mode: I remember the coil of the Custom as having an inductance of 3.13H while the coil from the 59 measured 2H. A typical Strat PU measures 2.2H to 2.6H, rarely less or more than this. FWIW.

I don't know what is the inductance of the Demon in split or series mode, nor if it splits well. I've very little personal experience with this pickup. I just remember the French shredder Patrick Rondat playing one in front of me and to have thought that his tone was spot on for 80's hard rock / hair metal. Once again, YMMV.

EDIT - Tried the Hybrid in my "experimental" Strat yesterday. Sounded thinner in this guitar than in the Explorer but still fat... A funny experiment, though, was to put a 11H inductor + 22k resistor at the junction between coils: made the "Custom coil" closer to the 59 one and tightened the bass accordingly. Alternative solution to split mode or parallel wiring... ;-)

 

[ToneFiddler]

i love the demon, but it only excels at high gain, and that's what it is design for. with low and moderate levels of gain, it's stiff and plinky, not liquid at all.
The WLH would be much better for that.
I didn't spend enough time with the hybrid, but as i remember the lowend was quite big.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Interesting to see the hybrid getting so much love, I was not aware. Would a Jazz neck be a decent combination? I have one around

The Demon and Hybrid are both good choices. I think the Demon sounds better parallel than split. The Hybrid is perhaps a bit more versatile and sounds great split and would also be my recommendation.

Yes, the Jazz would be a great neck pup with the Hybrid. I have personally preferred the Jazz bridge in the neck (a bit fuller and more output than the neck model.

 

[fretburner]

I have all 3 but in different guitars... 59/Custom hybrid is the best of the 3 and especially for 80s metal.

Hotter and more mids than the 59
More lows than the Demon
Enough presence and bite to cut through, i.e., enough sizzle but doesn't sound piercing at all

It's in fact my 2nd fave pup for the bridge position after the "regular" Custom

 

[jeremy]

i think the jazz neck would be a fine match for the hybrid.

 

[Ascension]

The Hybrid is one of the best split pickups, and has tight lows with enough touch-sensitivity to handle classic rock parts properly. It also works better in more types of amps than most other pickups.

Doesn't split near as well as a Perpetual Burn. I actually pulled the Burn I had out of my 217 Kiesel DC 135 and replaced it with a Hybrid because I thought the Hybrid would split much better with the AP 11 Kiesel single I had in the middle. It didn't not even close played 2 gigs with that combo and swapped back for the Perpetual Burn.
A Perpetual Burn IMO should also be considered here. I really like the Hybrid make no mistake as they are aggressive and really punch through a mix while staying very articulate and clear under gain. They also can get sweet but are much ruder and aggressive than a Burn. the Burn is more "polite " for lack of a better term very clear and articulate under high gain but is smoother and hav s a much better split and clean tone than a Hybrid but is still plenty aggressive enough to cover the tones you are talking about. Have a Burn paired with Alnico II Pro neck in my Purple Quilt hard-tail Carvin DC 127 now. I just swapped a pair of AP 11's back in the DC 135 and for now am running a Kiesel Beryllium in the bridge but am considering going back to the PB I now have in my parts box in that guitar.

 

[chadd]

i love the demon, but it only excels at high gain, and that's what it is design for. with low and moderate levels of gain, it's stiff and plinky, not liquid at all.
The WLH would be much better for that.
I didn't spend enough time with the hybrid, but as i remember the lowend was quite big.

Demon does cleans for funk incredibly well and never had an issue using it for light to moderate gain either. It's known for articulation, nobody should ever expect it to be "liquid". Demon is a little anemic when split, hybrid was definitely a bit better there.

 

[ToneFiddler]

Demon does cleans for funk incredibly well and never had an issue using it for light to moderate gain either. It's known for articulation, nobody should ever expect it to be "liquid". Demon is a little anemic when split, hybrid was definitely a bit better there.

You're right, i should have made clear that's my personal opinion on the PU and not a fact.
Yes, cleans are not too bad, bud i don't usually use a humbucker Bridge PU for that. light and moderate gain are also OK, but i prefer other buckers for that (PG, WLH, ...), since it's a bit too stiff and HiFi for my taste (especially for lead work).
I do like the tightness with highgain though and if you through some more gain at it, it will eventually start to scream and sing.